Huntington Bank Voice Rewards Card Review
The Huntington Bank Voice Rewards Card is an enticingrewards credit cardthat offers excellent value for it’s no annual fee but can come back to bite those who aren’t careful.
Earn 3X In Your Chosen Category
Huntington allows Rewards Voice Cardholders to earn up to 3X points on every purchase they make. The catch? The first $2,000 (or 6,000 points) in purchases in a chosen category earn 3X points, while every other purchase earns a flat rate 1X points per dollar spent.
Voice Cardholders have a choice of ten different categories in which they can earn triple points:
- Gas stations
- Travel and entertainment
- Restaurants
- Discount and warehouse stores
- Grocery stores
- Utilities and office supply stores
- Electronics stores
- Department, apparel, and sporting goods stores
- Auto parts stores
- Home improvement stores
Change Your 3X Category Every Quarter
Many rewards cards either lock you into set categories where you can earn multiple points per dollar spent on purchases, while others have a rotating set of categories where additional points are earned each quarter. The two most prominent examples of the latter are theChase Freedom Flex, Chase Freedom Unlimited and the Discover It Cash Back.
The Rewards Voice Card has a nice twist in that it not only allows cardholders to choose their preferred category to earn 3X points but lets them change their categories every quarter if they want. Think you’ll spend more on travel come the holiday season? Choose travel and entertainment as your 3X category. Or, perhaps you want to make some much-needed home repairs in the summer? In that case, maybe choose home improvement stores is the right way to go.
Of course, you could always just set and forget your bonus category, but the fact you can adjust your rewards to fit your expected spending habits is a nice perk that other issuers should consider.
What Are Voice Points Worth?
Points earned with the card are applicable towards rewards in theVoice Rewards Program, with a variety of redemption options from which to choose. These redemption options include gift cards, cash back, travel, and merchandise.
Voice Rewards points have a cash value of one cent ($0.01) per point, which is on par with the valuations of most rewards programs.
Interest Rates Vary Wildly Based on Creditworthiness
The purchase and balance transfer APRs of any card will differ based on the applicant’s creditworthiness, but that is taken to the extreme with the Voice Card. If you are considering applying for a Huntington credit card and plan to carry a balance on it, make sure that you have exceptional credit.
Both the Rewards Voice Card and the Low Rate Voice Card come with highly competitive interest rates on both balance transfers and purchases (along with a special0% intro APRoffer on balance transfers). In both instances, these rates are far below the national average and make the cards solid choices for carrying balances. But these rates are reserved for people with excellent credit scores.
For those at the lower end of the credit range, the APR with this card is high, to say the least – and extortionate to be blunt. Those who sneak in under the acceptance threshold can expect an interest rate above 27%, which is higher than what you’d find on many secured credit cards or unsecured cards for individuals with poor credit.
Should You Apply for the Huntington Voice Rewards Card?
The Huntington Rewards Voice Card is an excellent option for those who have excellent credit and want a card that offers flexible rewards. The choice of ten categories to earn triple points in is a very nice feature, as is the ability to change categories every quarter if desired.
More pleasant perks include the great low APR on purchases and balance transfers, which make the card ideal for carrying a balance and financing larger purchases over time. Thebalance transferpretentions of the card are further enhanced by the special 0% intro APR period for the first year on transfers conducted within the first 90 days of opening an account.
If, however, you don’t have excellent credit (or even very good credit) and plan to carry a balance, be very wary before applying for this card. If you can’t afford to pay down balances transferred over within the first 12 months, interest payments can quickly become unwieldy due to the sky-high APR for those with credit scores in the 600s.
That’s not to say those with good credit scores should be deterred, however. If they plan to pay their balance in full each month, the value present in the Voices Card is exceedingly enticing – and certainly worth applying for.
For those scared away by the interest rates, or maybe just looking for another option to consider, read our comprehensive review of theU.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Signature, which offers 5% cash back on the first $2,000 in purchases in two categories of your choosing, plus 2% back on gas and groceries – all for no annual fee.
